Temecula Valley, CA (PRWEB) – Celebrate California Wine Month Temecula-style this September in a month-long toast to the region’s bounty. Exciting programs for wine-lovers include CRUSH Wine & Culinary Showcase; Crush on Temecula Valley Wines, in partnership with local restaurants throughout Temecula Valley; a Wine Country video contest; a Wine Country social media challenge; SIP Temecula Passports, good for five tasting flights at participating wineries; and live events and entertainment happening in September throughout Wine Country.

Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country is home to more than 40 wineries boasting award-winning and 90+ point rated wines from Palumbo Family Vineyards, Lorenzi Estate, Callaway, Leoness Cellars, Hart Winery, Mount Palomar Winery, and more.

CRUSH Wine & Culinary Showcase
For the ultimate Southern California wine experience, visitors and locals are invited to celebrate Temecula Valley’s harvest at the CRUSH Wine & Culinary Showcase. Over 30+ member wineries will be featuring their latest and greatest varieties for tasting, while patrons mix and mingle with winemakers, vineyard owners, chefs, and new friends as they enjoy live entertainment and artisan food bites from over 15 local restaurants.

Crush on Temecula Valley Wines Restaurant Month for Wine
From September 1-30, local restaurants will offer unique Temecula Valley wine features to encourage locals and visitors to discover (or re-discover!) new favorites alongside Temecula Valley cuisine. These may include special Temecula Valley tasting flights, food and local wine pairings and zero corkage fees on local wines. To add to the fun, diners will be encouraged to share their wine new “crushes” via social media.

Wine Country Video Contest
This summer, Visit Temecula Valley and Temecula Valley Wine Growers Association invite amateur filmmakers to showcase their talents in the [insert name of video contest – stay tuned here]. Participants must submit 1-3-minute videos shot in Temecula Valley Wine Country, exploring the theme, “We take our wine seriously… but not ourselves.” The top three videos will be shared via social media during the month of September. The top vote-getter will receive two tickets to CRUSH two tickets to People’s Choice Blind Tasting & Wine Dinner, an overnight stay in Temecula, a SIP Passport, and an opportunity to participate in harvest (prize valued at approximately $1000).

Live Entertainment & Winery Events
Throughout the month of September, local wineries will feature an extensive lineup of events, live entertainment, and special promotions to celebrate Temecula Valley Wine Month. For up to date information and details on specific winery offerings, visit https://www.visittemeculavalley.com/things-to-do/events/.

About Visit Temecula Valley
With natural gifts of climate and geography Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country is recognized for scenic vineyards, award-winning wines, and 40+ wineries. The popular, boutique destination includes the Temecula Valley A.V.A. (American Viticulture Area) as well as Historic Downtown Old Town Temecula, Pechanga Resort & Casino, and Temecula Wine Country Golf Trail.

Visit Temecula Valley is the region’s official tourism marketing organization and an online resource for visitors at VisitTemeculaValley.com. Temecula Valley Visitors Center is located in Old Town Temecula (Third Street and Mercedes). For visitor information and assistance, call (888) 363-2852 or (951) 491-6085.

A Menu Created by Chef Michele Lisi and Wine Pairings by Sommelier Samantha Johnston in Celebration of Jonata’s Cult Wines

As part of a continuing series of dinners showcasing domestic and international winemakers, Nerano presents an intimate five-course dinner tasting menu paired with wines from Jonata, one of the Central Coast’s most sought after wine producers, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

The wines selected for Nerano’s Jonata wine dinner were chosen to introduce and familiarize the richness of these Santa Barbara County wines to a wider audience. Winemaker Matt Dee’s wines offer something for everyone – Rosé for warm afternoons or Aperitivo, versatile Chardonnay for any food at every price point, and reds that can be enjoyed every day like The Hilt, or something reserved for a memorable dinner, such as Jonata’s Tierra or ‘Alma’ Cabernet Franc.

Pricing for Nerano’s Jonata Wine Dinner is $175 per person inclusive of menu and wines, and exclusive of tax and gratuity. Dinner will be served in the upstairs BG Lounge promptly at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required and seating availability is limited for this event.

ABOUT JONATA

Matt Dees and the Jonata team’s commitment to a forward thinking approach to winemaking has made Jonata one of the most sought after cult wines of California’s Central Coast. The sandy soil slopes of the 84-acre vineyard in the Ballard Canyon AVA of Santa Barbara County were uncultivated until the Jonata team pioneered the land, planting some of the first and most successful Bordeaux and Rhone varietals in the region. Matt Dees has shown extraordinary results and gained widespread acclaim from critics such as Robert Parker, Antonio Galloni, and Stephen Tanzer. In addition, the Jonata team has an incredible commitment to sustainability. The Jonata Estate integrates livestock into their farming model, which enhances the soil and the health of their land. The ranch also contains a large communal garden, an orchard that produces olives for estate olive oil and honey bees raised for the production of honey. The vineyard team practices judicious water use without using chemicals such as herbicides or pesticides. Small production, meticulously made, with an outstanding commitment to quality – that is Matt Dees and Jonata’s way.

Nerano is the fourth restaurant from the Toscana Restaurant Group and is the vision of owners Andy Brandon-Gordon and Carlo Brandon-Gordon’s trips to the Amalfi Coast where they became inspired by the temperate climate, the pure simplicity of the coastal cuisine and the inviting Italian culture. In combining their individual talents with a virtuoso team of culinary and creative professionals, they are fulfilling their vision of a stunning contemporary space matched with exquisite dishes and welcoming service they discovered in the village of Nerano. Executive Chef Michele Lisi’s menu is deftly created with a light touch, using only the finest California and imported Italian ingredients. Mixologist William Perbellini has crafted the cocktail program for both Nerano and the sleek and lush BG Lounge upstairs. The BG Lounge is beautifully appointed and the dramatic and theatrical room is an instant classic, reminiscent of Bemelmans Bar at New York’s Carlyle Hotel or Bar Hemingway in Paris. Nerano and BG Lounge opened in November with much fanfare from The Hollywood Reporter, Eater, Thrillist and Urban Daddy.

People often ask how I got started on this wine journey, both as a writer and as a marketing consultant. Let me start with the wine, of course!

The Wine Journey

Drinking wine came well before tasting it – sounds crazy but it’s true – But I was perfectly satisfied with a box of Franzia wine for a glass of something cold and pink in my early twenties. I met my future husband, and soon after his sister took us wine tasting – a vertical at Concannon.

From there we were hooked. Classes at the Wine House in West Los Angeles, local wine tasting trips and a subscription to the Wine Spectator wine magazine.

Within ten years of my study I was also a columnist for the Signal newspaper. I wrote a snarky weekly column called “Eve of Destruction”. After 9/11 I had a change of heart and grew a heart – married to a fire chief does that to you – and I retitled my columns “Another Face of Eve”.

Then John Boston, long-time Signal columnist and author, took over the then titled “Escape” weekly entertainment section. He asked what else I could write about for him. I said book reviews and wine reviews. I had been in a book club for a long time, not as long as I had been drinking wine, but both seemed to be a good fit. Boston agreed.

But then…I quickly noticed that there were rewards for wine writers that wanted to hone their craft. Invites to dinners, tastings, events and classes were being extended. No one was sending me free books to review, so I tossed my books in a heap – except the wine books I was now reviewing for review – and immersed myself in wine. That was 10 years ago.

During the past decade I’ve spent time as an “armchair writer” while my daughter was young and, later, time visiting and interviewing winemakers from my own home in the Santa Clarita Valley to Lompoc, Los Olivos, Monterey, Carmel, Napa Valley, Sonoma and finally, the mother lode: Bordeaux. I definitely have more to see.

The Consulting Journey

Before I “immersed myself in wine” I had worked as a manager in both retail establishments and in the medical field. Within ten years I had taken several continuing education courses on how to make these different businesses more profitable, had found a few mentors, started a group of brainstorming managers…and you guessed it: I started consulting. It was difficult working in an office and consulting at the same time, fast forward a few years and I left management behind when I got further into consulting and, at the same time, further into wine studies.

While I never dreamed that these two interests would ever intersect along came Michael Perlis. Michael knew of me from my years at the Signal, and once I made his acquaintance we were both convinced that we had to work together! I have never been so happy in my career! Michael offered to edit all of my articles (in every publication which by now included books and magazines) and offered to write a weekly column in my fledgling website: Eve’s Wine 101.

Michael and I were covering a lot of events pretty quickly. And, due to my friendship with another wine friend, Roman Weiser, we started working together – with a ton of local winemakers – for our Pour Into events: Pour into Haiti and Pour into Sandy. Fast forward some more, and suddenly we were being asked to help almost every non-profit in the Santa Clarita Valley marketing their wine events.

Then, a for-profit business asked us for help. Michael urged me to start Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting, which, due to my former contacts, became Eve Bushman Consulting.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Somerset, CA (PRWEB) – After years of careful planning and construction, E-16 winery will be opening the doors of their new winery to the public in El Dorado County California. With tones of modern luxury and wine country chic, the personality of owner Robert Jones is felt from beginning to end, much like the way it feels to experience his wines.

Photo: E16 Winery Facebook page

Description

Carved into the mountainside that sits alongside a babbling brook, the tasting room has two specific personalities that are perfectly designed in the vernacular of the region it represents.

The front room is filled with natural lighting brought about by enormous bay windows and two sets of twelve foot doors, that invite the light to illuminate the polished concrete floor and urban zen style wooden bar. A waterfall with LED lighting gives the appearance of an indoor firefall. The back room, reserved for members, takes wine lovers into a 65 foot long cave decorated with vintage style chic chandeliers for lighting, rustic oversized leather couches, and an impressive three piece wooden bar that covers the entire back wall from side to side and floor to ceiling.

When the weather is right, the patio offers a third location for guests to relax in the sunshine alongside a babbling stream that runs down the side of the property.

Location

El Dorado County sits at the north end of California’s famed Mother Lode, the 120-mile gold vein discovered in the late 1840’s which became the site of the Gold Rush. Today, the region is better known for its visitor attractions, agriculture, and old-vine Zinfandel. The definition of “off the beaten path” wine tasting, El Dorado gives wine lovers the chance to experience a digital detox while sipping on the supple nectar of the grapes.

“I want to help everyone who interacts with E-16 to make lasting memories. We are more than thrilled to bring a tasting room like this to life in an area so dear to my heart. We want to recreate expectations when wine tasting in this area. We want people to enjoy an environment, wine, and a service level they have never seen before. A customized yet relaxed approach to comfort and approachable luxury,” said owner, Robert Jones.

Visitor’s Experience

The Tasting Room will initially offer five wines that showcase the awarded elegance of E-16 and their label FireFall, all created from the renowned hands of Winemaker Daniel Moore. E-16 will showcase their sought after Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs. FireFall will focus on more obscure varietals such as Syrah, Grenache Blanc and Barbera. So, whether you are a novice or an expert, E-16 will be the perfect spot to visit for wine travellers with all levels of wine knowledge.

The purpose of the Tasting Room will be to share E-16 wines and educate visitors about the wine, history and diversity of El Dorado County and the Fire Play AVA. The Tasting Room is open to the Public from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Friday– Sunday. Hours vary seasonally so visitors should call ahead to (530) 620-6200 or check the website at http://www.e16wines.com

OVERVIEW of E-16’s New Wine Tasting Room

Who – E-16 Winery – Owner Robert Jones – Winemaker – Daniel Moore
What – New wine tasting room in Somerset, California
When – The tasting room will be open to the public as of July 26, 2017
Where – 8085 Perry Creek Rd., Somerset, CA 95684

Reservations – can be made by visiting e16wines.com or calling (530) 620-6200 or emailing robin(at)e16wines.com

###

E-16 Winery

E16 Wines composes single-vineyard pinot noir and chardonnay from California vineyards graced with the optimum confluence of soil, climate and human curation. The new label FireFall is an inspired take on obscure varietals that thrill the senses.

The E16 winemaking team partners with grape growers who share a commitment to sustainable viticulture and a devotion to the fruit’s inherent varietal expression. This camaraderie is woven with a passion for excellence and respect for the fundamentals of thoughtful farming to produce noble wines having a true sense of place.

NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) – This month, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, the family-owned and operated Joseph Drouhin estate based on U.S. soil, kicked off its celebration of 30 years of success in the Willamette Valley’s Dundee Hills. Now run by the family’s fourth-generation, each of the four siblings play a large role in the success of the historic brand. The eldest, Philippe Drouhin, tends to the viticulture and sustainability of the vines, Véronique Drouhin-Boss, the winemaker and guiding palate of the estate, continues to surprise and delight with exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, Laurent Drouhin leads the marketing initiative in the U.S. as the face of the brand, and Frédéric Drouhin oversees all operations as President. Together, they complete a perfect unity utilizing centuries-old Burgundian winemaking traditions in Oregon.

Photo: Domaine Drouhin Oregon Facebook page

“I remember it like it was yesterday, walking with my father, Robert Drouhin, 30 years ago through the plot of land that was to become DDO,” said Véronique Drouhin-Boss during a series of kick-off events at the estate. “There was nothing there yet, of course, just trees and an incredible view. Most people probably could not see a vineyard within that land but we both just knew. It felt right. With my family, our amazing team, and the support of the community, we’ve worked tirelessly to bring the French soul to the soil of our Oregon estate and it gives me great joy to share our craft with those who have inspired and believed in our vision over the last three decades.”

Joseph Drouhin founded the Burgundy estate in 1880. His son Maurice Drouhin succeeded him in 1917, and his son – and current patriarch of the family – Robert Drouhin, became the third generation to run the business in 1957. It was Robert who first “discovered” Oregon on a visit in 1961. He recognized that it was Oregon (more so than California) that had the soil, latitude, and climate that could unlock the complexities and potential of Pinot and Chardonnay in the US. In 1987, Robert purchased property, and the newly christened Domaine Drouhin Oregon produced its first vintage in 1988 from purchased grapes. The following year they built the landmark, four-story gravity flow winery, producing the first ever vintage on the property in 1989.

“There is a big difference between ‘family-owned’ and ‘family-owned and operated.’ We live in Beaune, we live in Oregon, and we are in the vineyard and at the winery tasting every day. It is our family name on the label so we must be in control of every detail to ensure the wine can bear our name,” added Frédéric Drouhin.

During a series of kick off events, the family opened their estate and cellars with guided vineyard hikes, special tastings of vintages from DDO, Roserock – the latest of the Drouhin family’s adventure located in Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills – and Maison Joseph Drouhin. Each night ended with various themed dinners, such as a La Paulée-style “Le BBQ” which featured a blue grass band and multiple large-format free pours. The series also included an extraordinarily special tasting of some of the estate’s very first vintages including a 1989 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Classique (the very first vintage produced at the estate, of which there are only 24 bottles left). Guests also tasted through various vintages – including the first ever vintage – of Chardonnay Arthur (2015, 2012, 2002), Pinot Noir Laurène (2000, 1996, 1992), and Pinot Noir Louise (2007, 2003, 1999) – the three cuvées named for each of Véronique’s three children. Both her son Arthur and daughter Laurène took part in the celebration, adding another dynamic to the intimate affair – commenting wistfully on the wines, how they’ve aged well with time, and how the family has, as well. “When I taste the first vintages of the Arthur, Laurène, and Louise, I am profoundly reminded of the day each of them came into this world,” added Véronique. It was an incredibly moving evening for guests and the family alike.

Events were attended by friends of the family, members of the wine club, the media, importers, distributors, and neighboring estates such as: Eyrie Vineyards, Adelsheim, Ponzi, Casteel and Sokol Blosser families. Forever grateful for the continued community support, the four siblings and their children also performed the “ban bourguignon,” a tradition specific to Burgundy sung in celebratory honor, in this case directed in honor of their father, grandfather, great grandfather, and their esteemed guests.

Philippe Drouhin also led a number of informative vineyard tours throughout the DDO and their new Roserock estates. “After 30 years of observation of our vineyards in Oregon, every year I realize that the level of knowledge of the viticulture in Burgundy is sometimes useful in Oregon. We will spend the next 30 years really getting to know the vines – this estate is young and we are still learning,” he explained.

Robert Drouhin’s vision of an Oregon estate winery that could rival the great vineyards of Burgundy has been realized at DDO. From what began as test plantings of cloned Pinot Noir rootstock now encompasses 52ha (130 acres) planted in the Dundee Hills and 50ha (124 acres) planted in the Eola-Amity Hills. Interspersed with the Pinot Noir vines are 11 acres of Chardonnay, planted at various elevations and, like in Burgundy, planted right alongside rows of Pinot Noir. The densely planted vines are farmed sustainably on L.I.V.E. certified vineyards, and tended to by hand when leaves and fruit are thinned. Harvesting is also done entirely by hand, from the grape selection and picking to press.

“Our father made a very ambitious decision in 1987 to expand our business to Oregon,” said Laurent. “As we honor him and our family legacy, I am reminded of what a big moment this is for our family, and in our overall pursuit of perfection in Joseph Drouhin wines. Every year is a milestone. But the 30th is important because it shows that this is not just a short-term adventure, but that it is one more stone in the Drouhin brand.”

Maison Joseph Drouhin owns 77.7 hectares (192 acres) of vineyards in Burgundy. The vineyards are principally Grand and Premier Cru appellations of the Côte d’Or and Chablis. The family-owned and –run firm was founded in 1880 and produces nearly 90 different appellations, all of them from Burgundy. Since 1987, the family also owns 219 acres in Dundee Hills, known as Domaine Drouhin Oregon, and 229 acres in Eola-Amity Hills, known as Roserock since December 2013.

I realize that the drive from Santa Clarita to Newport Beach is a little daunting. In fact, on a weekday it took almost as long to get there as it does to get to Paso Robles. But once there, Karen and I were presented the opportunity to taste with representatives of 35 Paso Robles wineries…

Prior to the start of the trade and media portion of the tasting, we were invited to attend a seminar on Paso Robles wine presented by Peter Neptune, MS. For me, this was enough to justify the schlep to Newport Beach even without the grand tasting afterwards.

Master Sommelier Peter Neptune is a world renowned wine expert and educator. I’ve often wanted to attend one of his seminars but never had the chance. I was not going to pass up this opportunity.

We tasted through six wines from wineries that are representative of Paso Robles Wine Country today. Mr. Neptune offered his thoughts on these wines, as well as how Paso has developed over the last couple of decades.

[Yes, I realize that I often bemoan the loss of “old” Paso, as recently as a couple of weeks ago. But I do understand that, overall, the wines are better for a host of reasons. Still, 20 years ago, the wines – and winemakers – were special enough to make us fall in love with the region.]

The wines we tasted during the seminar were [with some of Mr. Neptune’s comments noted as PN]…

We first tasted the 2014 Espirt de Tablas Blanc from Tablas Creek Vineyard. A blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Picpoul Blanc, PN said that that this is one of his favorite whites from Paso Robles.

Then, we moved on to the 2016 Indie Rose of Tempranillo from ONX. PN referred to the wine’s “sunset” color and that it reminded him of a “creamsicle” [in a good way].

Time for the reds, so we started with the 2013 Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah blend from Alta Colina, which PN referred to as a “versatile” wine.

A Paso Robles tasting wouldn’t be complete without a Zinfandel in the mix, so we tasted the 2015 Zinfandel from Ancient Peaks, described with the highly technical word of “yummy” by PN.

Then we had the opportunity to taste two of Paso’s super-premium wines – the 2014 Soul of a Lion from Daou and the 2014 Estate Cuvee from L’Aventure. The Daou was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, which PN referred to as “gorgeous” and the L’Aventure blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot was noted by PN to have “tremendous power and concentration”.

We also discussed the 11 Sub-AVAs within the Paso Robles AVA [American Viticultural Area] and how wineries were labeling their bottles with their specific AVA along with the trend toward estate wines and organic and biodynamic farming.

Peter Neptune’s passion for wine really showed up in the class. His speaking style made a fun seminar even better.

After the seminar we stayed around awhile to taste some of the wines being poured at the Grand Tasting before heading back up to the Santa Clarita Valley. Next week, I’ll let you know our favorites.

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

I am a loyal Wine Spectator (WS) magazine reader, have been for over 20 years. With that said, I’ve leafed through Wine Enthusiast (WE) magazine many times. I had an opportunity to meet and interview West Coast Editor Steve Heimoff and often find myself in agreement with him on his tasting notes. As I thought our palates were sometimes in sync, when I got the press release below presenting the magazine’s 2013 Top 100 Wines, Top 50 Spirits and Top 25 Beers…I thought I better do more than leaf through the issue.

Starting with the article, “The Top 10 Wines Stories of 2013”, penned by editor Adam Strum, I learned that both men and women enjoyed more white wine this year, more wine producers are using social media, wine growing regions like Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara are gaining more attention, as well as wineries producing organic wines.

Then I noticed some other key pages: WE Instagram favorites, suggestions for moving the palate from, say, a Rioja’s Tempranillo fruit to try a Mexican Nebbiolo, where to find great wine lists in the Caribbean, where to eat in Denmark and Bordeaux, several winter cocktail recipes and single malt scotch recommendations.

Lengthier articles included an explanation of the different methods in making a sparkling wine, followed by a few suggestions that were not the standard fare, and ranged in price from $14 to $150; a feature on Portuguese winemakers; cooking classes available in Napa; recipes paired with white wines and their monthly Buying Guide.

Then came their “Must-Have Wines” selected from 16,500 globally tasted wines. A picture of the wine label accompanied most wines featured on the list – and if you’re like me a photo does help you to remember what to buy lest you show up at a store with the entire magazine in tow. (The number one wine was a sparkling: Roederer Estate 2004 L’Ermitage Brut, Anderson Valley at $47 retail and received a 97-point rating.)

Then came their “Top 50 Spirits” which I really looked forward to seeing as this is not something I’ve seen normally covered in a wine magazine. It sounded like they had fun tasting, among other things, “an unusual barrel-aged gin, a field-to-flask whiskey and a citrusy Tequila fermented using wine yeasts…”

Broken down by individual spirit, using photos as well, this time the number one winner was the Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2002 Edition, USA, Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, KY, at $26 retail and receiving 97 points.

Then we have the Top 25 Beers to look over that was “culled from our monthly Beer Buying Guide.” This time, the same format again employed, and the number one beer was New Glarus Wild Sour Ale, American Wild Ale, New Glarus Brewing Company, WI, at $10/12 ounce four pack and receiving 98 points. More can be found at www.buyingguide.winemag.com

I thought the magazine would end there, but I was only halfway through. Next came the WE Wine Star Awards that honors “individuals and companies”… “notable for their energy and groundbreaking vision…” The 2013 Wine Person of the Year was named as Barbara Banke, the chairwoman of Jackson Family Wines, and awarded due to the remarkable growth of vineyard holdings she has overseen…and other stellar individuals responsible for the success of our wine landscape follows her. I look forward to reading more in this section and getting to know more about whom we will be watching in the years to come…

# # #

Press Release:

WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE UNVEILS ITS BEST OF YEAR ISSUE

RANKING THE TOP 2013 IN WINES, BEERS AND SPIRITS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

The Ultimate Resource and Foremost Authority on Wine Lifestyle Announces its Annual Issue Featuring its Editorial Team’s Top Picks for the Year

Officially hitting newsstands this week, and sure to surpass expectations, the Wine Enthusiast Magazine Annual BEST OF YEAR Issue is finally here! Passionately committed to presenting the nation with its choice picks for the top wines, beers and spirits tasted this year, the Wine Enthusiast Global Tasting Panel and team of Editorial Experts have come up with a one of the most interesting and stellar lists to date, with the best-of-the best for every palate, style and price point imaginable.

This year’s list includes unique, first-rate picks that boast exceptional quality, drinkability, innovation and availability – aiming to represent the outstanding diversity in each category of wine, beer and spirits available in the market today. Conducting over 20,000 tasting’s over the course of the year and across all categories, the tasting panel and experts whittled the list down to include only the most interesting picks for this issue. Featuring the Top 100 Wines, Top 50 Spirits and Top 25 Beers that were tasted and reviewed throughout 2013, this list is the ultimate guide and resource for exceptional imbibing year-round.

“We are thrilled to present our record-breaking Best of Year Issue with one of the most interesting Top 100 Wines lists in our 25 years of publication,” states Editor & Publisher Adam Strum. “Not only does this list go above and beyond our ongoing promise to search for the best quality-to-price ratio, but we also set a record with a sparkling wine taking the number one spot for the first time in the history of the magazine.”

Standing out from the rest, the wine list in particular showcases more then ever the magazine’s unwavering dedication to providing its readers with incredible wine discoveries. With its creatively curated wine selection it is no wonder that Wine Enthusiast’s Best of the Year issue is setting new standards everywhere. Highlights from the list include:

A number one scoring sparkling wine

Some of the world’s best wines for $16 and under

Exciting emerging regions such as Canada, Israel and Georgia

As one of the most respected and quoted authorities in the world of wine, beer and spirits, it’s no wonder that Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Best of Year Issue is the definitive leader and guide for the top alcoholic beverage picks year after year. Consistently featuring only the hottest trends in everything related to wine lifestyle, Wine Enthusiast’s seasoned editors do the work for their readers. The ultimate list for an amazing year, Wine Enthusiast Magazine has the best of the best for 2013.

# # #

About Wine Enthusiast Magazine:

Wine Enthusiast Magazine educates and entertains readers about wine and the wine lifestyle in an accessible and user-friendly way. Published 13 times per year, the magazine’s readership is more than 800,000. The magazine and its Buying Guide with more than 100,000 ratings and reviews are available online. The magazine hosts signature Wine Enthusiast events for both consumer and trade. www.WineMag.com

FORT BRAGG, CA – Tickets are on sale for the 33rd Annual Winesong event — a spectacular weekend of award-winning wine, fabulous food, fine art, music, merriment, and charitable giving. Produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, the main event – featuring a grand food and wine tasting and a live and silent auction – takes place at the gorgeous Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Saturday, September 9th, and on Friday, September 8th, the nearby Little River Inn will host A Pinot Noir Celebration, showcasing winemakers from Anderson Valley and other renowned Pinot regions. Proceeds from both events go towards supporting the local Mendocino Coast District Hospital that serves so many in the area.

Winesong is very pleased to announce at this time the sponsors for the 2017 event. Some have been with Winesong for years, while others are new to the family, but all contribute in helping to raise essential funds for the rural Hospital. This year, we have a wonderful mix of local and regional, as well as commercial and private sponsors. Sponsors are a vital part of any event — they help offset costs of production, provide auction lots, and add value to the attendees’ experience.

Two of the newest sponsors are Garton Tractor, in conjunction with Kubota Tractors, and American AgCredit. Garton Tractor is a leader in agricultural equipment – for sales, service, parts, and rentals. Garton Tractor has nine stores in Northern CA, and extending to the Central Valley, with the Ukiah Store being represented at Winesong. Kubota Tractors are one of their quality brands and both will be on hand at Winesong, not just for display, but to also help with vendors and guests alike. Both companies stress quality, integrity, and putting people first – and their respective values are both valued and appreciated by Winesong. Another leader in the agriculture industry – American AgCredit – whose mission is to be the best lender to agriculture. American AgCredit is committed to serving all segments on agriculture, ensuring they remain responsible stewards of borrower’s investments. Winesong welcomes the new ag-centric sponsors to our larger Winesong family!

Winesong is also thrilled to welcome Grape Encounters Radio as a sponsor. Last year David Wilson, Host of Grape Encounters, attended as a media affiliate and we’re elated that he chose to participate at a greater level this year. Grape Encounters Radio is the number one wine broadcast in America, simulcast on numerous stations across the country. What makes Grape Encounters a stand out is their focus on people as much as the wine itself. Having been on the air for eight years, Grape Encounters seeks to bring the entire world of wine to their listeners – and it’s evidenced in their weekly broadcasts. And – they make wine accessible to everyone, regardless of how great or little your knowledge or wine.

Local realty firm Pamela Hudson Real Estate is also a new sponsor to Winesong. PHRE specializes in high-end residential and commercial properties for buyers and purchasers, for investments or personal use. A highly-respected broker and realtor, Pamela herself is a huge community supporter, and we’re delighted to earn her support, and that of Pamela Hudson Real Estate, at Winesong.

Community First Credit Union, soon to merge with MendoLake Credit Union, is a new sponsor as well. Community First Credit Union covers Napa, Sonoma, and as of August 1st, Mendocino & Lake Counties. CFCU offers all of the amenities you’d find at other credits unions, plus amazing service. We welcome Community First as a new sponsor and member of our Winesong family and community.

The weekend kicks off with a prestigious Pinot Noir tasting, presented by Winesong and hosted by Little River Inn. Attendees will enjoy Pinot Noir from renowned Anderson Valley, along with wines from other award-winning pinot regions, alongside tastes of Little River Inn’s finest culinary offerings. General Admission Tickets for A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers are $75 per person.

Wine & Food Grand Tasting in the Gardens

Saturday, September 9, 2017 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stroll through the lush Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying vintages poured by world-class wineries from Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and beyond. Sample beer, spirits, and food from 50 of Mendocino County’s finest purveyors. The tasting is accented by various musical groups performing a variety of styles including jazz, classical, blues, calypso and folk rock. General Admission Tickets with festival seating at auction and access to wine and food tasting are $150 per person.

The centerpiece of Winesong weekend is the Charity Auction, featuring both a silent and live auction. Nearly 200 lots will be on offer, featuring spectacular wines from the world’s most prestigious wine producers, rare vintages, large format bottles and special vertical and horizontal collections, as well as original art from acclaimed California artists and highly coveted international and domestic vacation packages. Auction Reserve Tickets with assigned seating under the auction tent (w/catered lunch) and access to wine and food tasting are $250 per person.

Tickets to all events are available for purchase at: http://winesong.org/events/purchase-tickets/

Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Its mission is to help the small rural Hospital provide the best possible medical care to residents as well as the many visitors to the Mendocino Coast. Winesong proceeds have enabled the Hospital to purchase chemotherapy equipment, portable ultrasound machines for the Emergency Room as well as a state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging Center, Cardiology Equipment, a Bedside Medicine Verification System, and most recently, a Patient Bedside Monitor Alert & Telemetry System. http://winesong.org

NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) – According to a recent survey conducted on behalf of APCOR – The Portuguese Cork Association, 89 percent of the world’s top wines as selected by Wine Spectator in 2016 are sealed with cork closures.

Each year since 1988, Wine Spectator has released its Top 100 list, selecting the best wines from the thousands reviewed during the course of the year. According to the magazine, the criteria used to create this highly-regarded, annual list focus on quality, value, availability and excitement.

The survey also revealed that 97 percent of the American wines selected were sealed with cork closures, while 98 percent of the wines chosen from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Israel, were sealed with cork closures.

“The findings from this survey simply reflect the fact that top winemakers all over the globe trust cork closures to preserve the quality and character of their wines,” says Carlos de Jesus, Operational Director of the InterCork program of APCOR. “Cork closures have a long-standing history in the wine industry and have been scientifically and empirically proven to be the most effective sealing system for preserving the sensorial quality and neutrality of wines during the aging process. Going back centuries the world’s greatest wines have always used cork, and it comes as no surprise that in 2016 cork remains the preferred choice of fine wine producers and connoisseurs alike.”

Cork closures are 100 percent recyclable and sustainable. They are sourced from the bark of the cork oak tree, which regenerates after being harvested by hand every nine years. Cork oak is a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) priority species because it is one of the most ecologically, economically, and culturally important species on the planet. Cork oak forests provide habitats for endangered species and are a dependable income for the Western Mediterranean communities that maintain and harvest them.

The information collected in this survey was conducted through individual phone calls and emails to the wineries, importers and distributors listed in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 List of 2016.

For more information about APCOR, visit http://www.apcor.pt. You can follow APCOR on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. For questions about APCOR, please contact Krisna Bharvani or Josh Zoland of Colangelo & Partners.

About APCOR:
The Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR) exist to promote natural cork and its products. APCOR is the employers’ association of the cork sector that represents, promotes and carries out research in the Portuguese cork industry. It was created in 1956 and is based in Santa Maria de Lamas, in the council of Santa Maria da Feira, at the heart of the cork industry around 30 kilometers from Porto, Portugal’s second largest city. Membership of the association is open to all companies operating in the fields of production, marketing or export of cork products. The organization advocates on behalf of the Portuguese cork industry worldwide and is the driving force of an industry based on tradition, innovation and sustainability.

For most of my wine drinking life I’ve espoused the belief that my favorite wine experiences are one-on-one situations with the winemaker, often of a fairly low-budget operation sharing his or her creations with me, sometimes while standing at opposite ends of a barrel or out in a vineyard. I’ve tended to avoid the high end fancy facilities where I’ve worried [sometimes justifiably] that the money went into the architecture and not the wine.

We first tasted the Law wines at the Ojai Wine Festival a few years ago. Winery General Manager Oliver Esparham was pouring their first vintage and we – especially Karen – fell in love with the Law Wines. I still remember Karen rushing up to me and telling me “You need to try Law – especially the GSM blend!” She was right; the wines were great. I had no idea what this winery had in the works though.

Not too long thereafter, we found ourselves meeting once again with Oliver, this time at the under-construction winery in the soon-to-be-named Adelaida district of Paso Robles. It had now become pretty clear that this was going to be one of those fancy wineries. Yet, I couldn’t really complain, as the wines were definitely awesome.

Let’s look at how they got that way.

Don and Susie Law followed their passion for Rhone wines from their home in Colorado to Paso Robles, which is known for producing some of the best American Rhones. As geologists, they knew the right soil when they found it, and they built the winery and tasting room to match what they knew were going to be extremely high quality grapes coming from their estate vineyards. Add to the mix a true superstar winemaker in Scott Hawley as well as a group of some of the best winery employees you’ll find anywhere, and the outcome is no surprise.

Earlier this year, we had occasion to visit the winery and taste some of their current releases. [Note that tastings are by appointment and there is a $20 charge for tasting. Also note that the $20 charge is waived if you join the Allocation – and why wouldn’t you?]

Never easy to pick a favorite here, as all the wines are truly delicious. Karen’s continues to be the Sagacious blend. I tend to lean toward the complex flavors of the Beyond Category but ultimately I’m a sucker for the Intrepid 100% Syrah.

A month or so later, we had the pleasure of attending LAW’s Black Label Release Dinner.

To explain a little, LAW has two sets of labels, White and Black. The White Label wines are released in the Fall and if you buy enough [12 bottles in total at least] you get the opportunity to purchase the Black Label wines when they are released early the next year. Now I haven’t noticed a huge qualitative difference between the two labels, at least for my palate; I’m just a big fan of all the LAW wines.

That is not to say you shouldn’t buy the Black Label wine too, as there is no reason not to buy all that Law has to offer. And, the perks are pretty good too, such as being able to attend this dinner [which filled up so quickly they had to add a second one].

Not surprisingly, everything was delicious and the wines and courses were perfectly paired to highlight the nuances of each. The big standout for me was the Prima with the duck, but that’s not really surprising given my fondness for both.

I almost forgot to mention that before dinner there was a social hour with appetizers and more great wine, including the debut of the 2015 Soph blend of Roussanne, Marsanne and Clairette Blanche.

Lots of happy people that evening. At this kind of event, attendees quickly become friends. And the gentleman next to me said: “This is the best wine event I’ve ever attended.” [He was also happy to be sitting next to the “other Michael Perlis”, but that’s a story for another day.]

And speaking of people, it would be very easy for the Law owners and staff to match the fanciness of the winery. But there were no “airs” evident. The Laws are gracious and approachable, as is Scott Hawley. Over the last few years, I’ve gotten to know the aforementioned GM OIiver Esparham as well as Tasting Room Manager Adelaida Pitts and Sales and Marketing Manager Arnaud Fabre. This visit we got to chat with Cellar Manager Pedro Vazquez, whose enthusiasm is infectious. Without them, and the rest of the Law team, being who they are, the wines would probably still be great but the experience wouldn’t be what it is.

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.